Best Plum Tomato Varieties for Cooking

Plum tomatoes are the top choice for cooking thanks to their dense, meaty flesh, low water content and intense flavour. They’re ideal for sauces, passata, soups, roasting, drying and preserving. In the UK, the best plum tomato varieties are those that crop reliably under cover or in a warm, sheltered spot outdoors, delivering rich flavour even in cooler summers.

⭐ Recommended Products — Tomatoes & Growing Essentials

• Tomato Seed Collection (Garden & Greenhouse Varieties)
A mix of popular tomato seeds — including salad and beefsteak types — perfect for sowing indoors early and planting out when warm.
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• Tomato Plants (Ready-Grown)
Save time with healthy young tomato plants — excellent if you prefer planting established plants rather than starting from seed.
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• Tomato Support Cages & Stakes
Helps keep vines upright, improving air circulation and reducing disease — essential for healthy growth and easier harvesting.
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• Tomato Feed & Fertiliser
Formulated with high potassium to support strong flowering and fruiting — use regularly through the growing season for bigger, juicier tomatoes.
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• Tomato Grow Bags / Containers
Ideal for patios, balconies, or greenhouse growing — provides good drainage and space for roots to develop big, productive plants.
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1. San Marzano

San Marzano is widely regarded as the ultimate cooking tomato. The long, slim fruits have thick flesh, very few seeds and a deep, balanced flavour that intensifies when cooked. Perfect for pasta sauces, passata and slow-cooked dishes, it performs best in greenhouses or polytunnels in the UK.

2. Roma VF

Roma VF is a dependable and disease-resistant plum tomato that produces heavy crops of smooth, firm fruits. Its dense texture makes it excellent for sauces, purées and freezing, while its reliability makes it a popular choice for UK growers.

3. Amish Paste

A large paste tomato with substantial flesh and rich, sweet flavour. Amish Paste is versatile for sauces, soups and roasting, and its larger size means fewer tomatoes are needed when cooking in bulk.

4. Opalka

Opalka produces long, cylindrical fruits with exceptionally meaty flesh and minimal juice. It’s ideal for thick sauces, tomato paste and drying, offering excellent flavour concentration when cooked.

5. Principe Borghese

Traditionally grown for sun-drying, Principe Borghese also excels in sauces and roasting. The smaller plum-shaped fruits dry quickly and develop a strong, rich flavour, making them perfect for preserving.

6. Plum Regal

A modern, high-yielding plum variety bred for disease resistance and consistent crops. Plum Regal produces classic sauce tomatoes with good flavour, making it ideal for large batches of passata or chutney.

7. Viva Italia

Viva Italia is a reliable cooking tomato with smooth, deep red fruits and a classic Italian flavour profile. It performs well under cover and is excellent for sauces, soups and freezing.

8. Little Napoli

A compact plum tomato ideal for containers and smaller gardens. Despite its size, Little Napoli delivers sweet, richly flavoured fruits that are perfect for homemade sauces and roasting.

9. Plum Lemon

A yellow plum tomato with a slightly tangy, fruity flavour. Plum Lemon is great for colourful sauces, mixed preserves and chutneys, adding both flavour and visual appeal.

10. Oxheart (Cuore di Bue)

Although technically a beef-plum type, Oxheart tomatoes have thick, meaty flesh with very few seeds. They are excellent for cooking, sauces and roasting, producing rich flavour with minimal liquid.

Growing Tips for Cooking Tomatoes in the UK

Grow plum tomatoes under cover where possible to improve ripening and flavour. Feed regularly once flowering begins to support heavy fruiting, and harvest fruits fully ripe for maximum taste. For sauces and preservation, allow fruits to ripen fully on the vine before picking.

Final Thoughts

If you love making sauces, soups or preserving tomatoes, plum varieties are essential. Choosing reliable, meaty types suited to UK conditions ensures richer flavour, thicker sauces and better results in the kitchen.